These Westfield 4th Graders Started Their Own Bracelet Business

WESTFIELD, NJ — Nightly FaceTime calls between eight best friends is what sparked the idea for a bracelet-making business, according to Westfield mom Lauren Merel.

A group of eight fourth-grade girls from Westfield have teamed up to create their own personalized bracelet business, called JamminBraceletz. The girls make the bracelets themselves, with all sorts of colorful beaded patterns, and donate a portion of the proceeds to charity.

Visit their Etsy Shop and Instagram page to purchase bracelets and view the different designs.

Merel said her daughter, Jordyn, would FaceTime her friends every night and the girls would make bracelets together while chatting. The girls had the idea to start a business, and Merel and another mom suggested they donate some of the proceeds to Ronald McDonald House — a non-profit organization that helps families with hospitalized children.

JamminBraceletz began around Dec. 12, and Merel said the girls raised around $500 for Ronald McDonald House. The name of the business incorporates the first initial of all the girls' names — Jordyn, Ava, Miley, Madison, Izzie, Caroline, Lily and Zoe.

"They're all about togetherness," Merel said. "And they really have been working hard and they're excited about it."

Merel said learning about running a business has been a valuable learning experience for the girls and the main focus is on giving back to the community. She added that it has also been a great social experience for the girls, allowing for less screen time and more socialization.

"It kind of took them off their iPads," Merel said. "We've also gotten together on Sundays after Sunday school and everybody meets at one house and makes bracelets."

The bracelets come in all colors and designs, with positive messages, such as "strong," "wisdom" and "warrior" written out in beads.

For the month of January, Merel said they will donate the proceeds to a new charity — Trial Blazers for Kids out of Livingston, NJ. The nonprofit focuses on improving treatment options and finding cures for pediatric cancers.

The bracelets cost $7 each and there are many available to be purchased on Etsy.

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